Response from Zaki Tamir to rumors claiming that member-elect of the Badatz Rabbi Yossi Braun is not coming to Crown Heights because of he has no Smicha and the Vaad Hakohol can’t afford to pay him what he asked:
Its all news to me, I’ve been in contact with R Braun directly and he hasn’t made any demands at all. The vaad is raising money and establishing maas hakohol again in order to secure capital for a reasonable offer.
The Vaad is bound by the election. Elections are designed to allow the public to express the opinion upon which the vaad must act in good faith representation.
There are rules of judicial review in place, and as such it is the vaad’s obligation to carry out the will of the people pursuant to a sacred fiduciary duty superseded only by written veto directed to the vaad from the bais din.
In this case the governing body is the Bais Din of R Rosenberg. In fact no veto has been presented to me, and the directive seems to be clear.
A responsible position is one that is at least partially backed by cash-in-hand and partially backed by pledges, amounting to one year salary. The amount offered will be a reflection of the amount available.
It seems that there is a lot of info out there that I’m unfamiliar with, I am unable to confirm or deny the details associated with credentials and the like, but my line of work has taught me that words are words and words are cheap.
R Braun has been elected and chosen by a majority of the voting population that is enough for me to feel secure in assuming some responsibility here.
R Braun’s geographical remoteness and lack of Crown Heights political experience may very well be the qualities upon which he has been selected.
It would not be unreasonable to believe that the majority chose a candidate that stood furthest from any old conflicts.
My personal vote was for R Bogomilsky, but the votes were casted and the winner has been selected. I’ve accepted the fact that R Braun won.
Absent a psak from R Rosenberg directing otherwise how could the vaad entertain the notion of dismissing a clear message from the majority. Under what authority could the vaad act in opposition to the psak din.
Complaints of fairness should be directed towards R Rosenberg. If directed elsewhere, the complaints seem to lack sincere credibility and possess an air of slander.
Ich volt eich gelacht vehn di nar iz nisht meineh
You are right! The Rebbe wanted it like that.
Between Obama’s false citizenship and the Rabbi’s alleged smicha. We need to do something. Guys let’s start a movement where everyone must walk around with their a)certification
b)documentation
c)citizenship
d)home address
e)cell phone number
f)social security number
stapled to their foreheads.
Come on let’s start and it’s sure to pick up. Soon everyone will be doing it.
Post his Smicha and then the truth is told. Doesn’t a rov on the beis din need it.?? Either Rav Braun has it or he doesn’t. Then enough of the yes/no issue.
some of the posts….
referring to having their vote swayed bc of $!
i’d like to see on what basis you look for shidduchim for your children!
thank Gd Rabbi Braun will be joining us I”H.
A relief like a drop of rainwater from Gan Eden.
He is the real deal. B”H.
I don’t understand what this whole hullaballoo is about. Rumors are spreading like wildfire over nonsensical issues. CH’s third Rov is coming soon. We can only pay him and the other Rabbonim what we’ve got. As far as I understand there is no gov’t. program this year that will pay our hardworking,devoted Rabbonim the token salary they were getting. Whatever the community gives as Mas Hakohol will go to support our Rabbonim ($15/mo. per family). When we have a shaila, make a chuppa, need a din Torah, need family/marriage counseling they are there- In my opinion it is the greatest… Read more »
Chevre, stop being so pessimistic.
Tamir2012
We need three Rabbonim. Period!!!! Zaki Tamir way to go. Keep on trucking. You’re doing a GREAT job B”H.
First of all it, is Rabbi Zaki Tamir. Second of all, the new Rov IS in. He was voted in like the Rebbe wanted and that’s it. Get over yourselves once and for all.
Zaki and the Vaad are doing the right thing, tapping into resources that will help CH grow. I and my family will be AGAIN paying our Mass Haakohol.
We stopped after those who we voted for, like Chanina Sperlin and Leibish Nash were LOCKET OUT….
Many Askonim from all over, when hearing that the Vaad is setting up committees, starting with Chanina, commented, This Zaki is a smart guy.
And to you the few, that seem to think that GOONS will rule CH, YOUR DEAD WRONG….
When talking of the honor we must give to Rabbonim, don’t we need to be sure when voting for a Rov for a community the size of CH, we make sure the person being used in this political struggle IS actually a Rov? If there is question if there is a Smicha what sort of Shimush does this “Rabbi” have?!?! If he hasn’t been honest about this…. what else are we yet to find out about?!?!
He does not have smicha. The letter that he got from Rabbi Tzinner was given to him upon his request to help him get his position in Sydney. You can verify this by calling Rabbi Tzinner.
Brauns appearance in CH will not create peace or harmony.
Where does the $400,000.00 for the 3 Rabbonim come from.
Have the two incumbents been paid up to date
Then you voted for the wrong person and the wrong cause because Tamir is smart enough to know he doesn’t have the connections and the time and knows that Sperlin does have them and he is willing to help. I feel very sorry for you.
Shulchan Aruch demands that we give honor to Rabbonim, especially someone who will be Rav in our community. Everyone who participated in the election and cast a vote on either side is bound by the results- and since the overwhelming majority of the community voted, even those who stayed at home are included. If the Rav walks into the room, you are required to stand, etc. Make sure to keep that in mind when writing comments.
that is not smicha. that is a confirmation letter based on Rabbi Brauns word, there never was an actual semicha. rabbi znner retracted his letter.
https://collive.com/files/0.30051395139_567838.jpg
picture of his smichah by gavriel tzinner
i hope zaki wil do the other things the election told him which is that we want sperlin and co out of the CHJCC why hire him when he was voted out by 75% of the vote
I loved this piece. Smooth, direct, and impassive. I like
Kol hakavod to Zacky for putting aside his personal preferences and implementing the community’s mandate. Although I didn’t vote for you, you’ve just earned my support. I will certainly pay my mas hakohol and will encourage my friends to do so as well.
Some of these nasty, lying, petty, short-sighted comments make me ashamed to be a part of this community!
Thank you Zaki for letting us know what’s going on.
i dont understand this commuity.we live in the most special community.and we cannot come together.and 100,000 dollars for a rov ???? and taxing the comunity to get it??
to #26 i like your message, UNITE, and everyone that agrees should step up to the plate and speak up!
for real, lets go and move this process along, just get the Rabbi over here already and lets keep it on track while there is still some momentum left in the people. I didnt get any letter from the vaad about mas hakohol, but i would totally participate if i was directed what to do.
Rabbi Braun had an agreement with his Sydney community that he will give them 60 days to find a replacement.
So as the election ended just before Rosh Hashonah he was not planning on coming here before the beginning of Kislev.
As the election is behind us, majority of the community voted, lets put our feelings and opinions aside and unite, just – UNITE!!
Forget already about what could have been if someone else won. He did not win period. Rabbi Brown is the new Rov and that’s it. The vaad needs to figure this idea of taxing the community. They don’t need 135000 because there is a concept called parsonage where many of the expenses of a rabbi can be paid and there is no need to pay SS or other taxes for the full amount. If according to halacha. People that are doing better financially can be tapped and must give for the salary it needs to be consulted with Rabbi Rosenberg,… Read more »
what about the two other rabbis and their salaries?
This is a disgrace, some people are just too quick to judge! Unbelievable!!
Besides as far as the Va’ad is concerned, he was straight forward, I can’t even believe that he said who he voted for, but some are still quick to judge, I’m sure all the decisions and work he does is very complicated so just take it easy…
I praise Mr Tamir for his words, in fact I will increase my mas hakahal payments sustantially. I believe taht the Vaad Hakahal is setting the right course and donations and support for them will iy”h be forthcoming.
T
Are you guys joking? Today every bochur that cannot even learn 5 lines of gemara without artscroll gets semicha, and you want to lead people to believe that a demonstrable Talmik Chacham, from a family of rabbonim, and actually a sitting, practicing rov for 10 years – has no semicha?
To what level do you want to stoop?
See this for starters:
collive.com/files/0.30051395139_567838.jpg
YES HE DOES HAVE SMICHA! STOP SPREADING RUMORS THAT ARE NOT TRUE!
we paid good money for R Rosenberg and for the decision to bring a Rav into the bais din. It was the Rebbe that insisted that a Rav be selected via elections. doesnt that count for anything? we had an election for heaven’s sake everyone got a chance to speak up on that day. now exercise the freedom, lets see what the next chapter holds. whatever lies ahead its gotta be better than what we have now. what do we have now? nothing! both sides will admit that right now we have nothing, no bais din, no proper structure of… Read more »
A 100k salary equals 135,000 when you account for taxes, benefits etc. Plus the first year probably 20,000+ for moving expenses and relocating the family. So basically we need to come up with 160k in cash and pledges when: a) at least half the community (probably 65%) will not agree to pay this guy a nickel. b) the community is so overtaxed with tuitions, shul/mikvah memberships, CSSY – the most important cause in our community, Ten Yad etc etc the ones that still have a few bucks are totally tapped out. c) our community is BROKE let’s face it. Would… Read more »
$100,000 salary
2500 families
$40/year
Is that really so hard to scrape together? Less than $4 per month.
i hope the world Jewish communities don’t get a hold of nonsense it seems like when it comes to a money issue we are like five 13 year old going over the restaurant tab.
meyer clapman
umm yes rabbi braun does have smicha! gosh rumours get worse by the minute!
the poor guy
crown heights doesnt deserve him!
Cant the basic, simple, question be answered?
if it was up to the vaad they would never let bruan run since they know they cant afford to bring him her and pay his expenses, but hendel and co cinvinced rosenberg to let him run and ran his campain now that he won they threw it on the vaad to bring him here, otherwise it looks bad on the vaad. one big mess which only happens because they rushed into it!!! hendel and co never had any plans on paying for braun they just didnt want bagomilsky to win
does anyone realize that all these families who were depending on the help for camp got Nothing, because everyone was too busy being flaky? Thats the ikkor of the situation, our families are everything,……
“chosen by a majority of the voting population” no, he was elected by the majority of those who voted, 868 eligible voters from the the Tazch list DID NOT VOTE, and that’s the fact, Zaki stop spinning.
How can I a tiny pathetic community of 50 people (not families) who cant even afford their own rent or grocery bills scratch together 100k plus for the rabbi and a supposedly big organised thriving community like crown heights with 2500 families not be able to scrape together the money. You guys are pathetic! And should be ashamed
Whether he does or doesn’t have smiecha should have been made available to the CH voters prior to the election. Personally, I would’t have voted for him had I known.
Why didnt anyone think of $$$ before? Would we have had to pay Rabbi Bogomilsky as much or at all considering his financial state? Why didnt the VAAD make clear before what the implications were for CH when we elected one candidate over the other. Is paying a salary to support a large young family something our community can afford? Would it have impacted my choice? Perhaps…but at the minimum these factors should have been made clear earlier.
“There are rules of judicial review in place, and as such it is the vaad’s obligation to carry out the will of the people pursuant to a sacred fiduciary duty superseded only by written veto directed to the vaad from the bais din.”
I’m no legal scholar, but this sounds like a bunch of fancy words that essentially means nothing…
Pls make any comments appropriate but remember halachic issues regarding correct speech & discussion
Does he, or does he not, have semicha?
Why isn’t he here yet?
Why didn’t they give clear terms of how much they would pay him and how before the election?
This is sounding more pathetic the more I hear about it.
I have to agree, although I will not give any money since there seem to have been many misleading facts in the campaign to have him elected.
well said
your trying to make to points in the same statement
1. who was elected
2. who you preffered
telling us even though the majority picked Rabbi Braun and you have to live with it but I picked the opponent interjecting that it doesn’t meet your approval inside of you if otherwise there was no reason to make that irresponsible statement.